[ShakingTwoTrees]

Last Spring, I picked up a dealership demo 2017 ATS 8-Speed Auto with 8,000km on it at a price I've yet to see bettered to this day. Now there's an identically equipped Luxury model in the same colour, but with the 3.6L with AWD at a local BMW dealership with 18,000km on it (mine is now at nearly 21,000km). I'm not really interested in AWD, but would potentially (I've yet to drive one) prefer the 3.6L over the 2.0T (currently stock and no plans to tune it). I'm curious to hear your comments and recommendations as to whether I should consider spending an estimated $3,000-$5,000 to upgrade to the 3.6L AWD platform or stick with the 2.0T RWD.
Thoughts?

 

[artscadillac]

With the same options and you saying you don't care about the AWD, you are spending the upgrade $$ just to
get the 3.6. Decide if you like the 3.6 enough better to want to spend the $.

The 3.6 is only a bit faster and uses regular gas, but will get about 3-4 less MPG with the AWD.
If your car has been running perfect, you also risk inheriting possible problems that the 3.6 car could have, so check the Carfax.
Also check the condition and tires.

The 3.6 with AWD could be worth some more when you trade it.

 

[Phantom14]

Last Spring, I picked up a dealership demo 2017 ATS 8-Speed Auto with 8,000km on it at a price I've yet to see bettered to this day. Now there's an identically equipped Luxury model in the same colour, but with the 3.6L with AWD at a local BMW dealership with 18,000km on it (mine is now at nearly 21,000km). I'm not really interested in AWD, but would potentially (I've yet to drive one) prefer the 3.6L over the 2.0T (currently stock and no plans to tune it). I'm curious to hear your comments and recommendations as to whether I should consider spending an estimated $3,000-$5,000 to upgrade to the 3.6L AWD platform or stick with the 2.0T RWD.
Thoughts?

If you have no tuning aspirations with the 2.0T, go and drive the 3.6L to see how you like it (you probably will...lol). The improved sound and different (subjectively better) throttle response may win you over. If it matters to you, a V6 AWD car will pay you back later with better resale value in the Canadian market; if nothing else, it will be 'easier' to sell. If both cars are 2017's, would you be moving up from a 'Luxury' trim level to the 'Premium Luxury' level? That's worth a $3-5000 bump any day of the week... :thumbsup:

By chance is <this> the car you're looking at? That's loaded - you'd definitely enjoy that! :yup: Be sure to do your diligence with the warranty history, too. Take the VIN to your Cadillac dealer and have the Service Dep't. run it for you. It should have had at least one oil change done by now. I see on the CarProof that the original owner had it undercoated a few months after it went into service and before its first winter, which is probably a good sign ('specialy for an ON car).

 

[ShakingTwoTrees]

Good points...thanks for your input, and yes, 'that' is the car I'm considering (pretty much identically equipped to mine from what I can tell, but it has paddle shifters and lower DRLs, so it must be a Premium Luxury). I'm pretty sure I'd prefer the more linear throttle response and exhaust note of the 3.6L to the 2.0T. While I wouldn't personally benefit from AWD, you're right in saying that it would be advantageous when I go to sell the car in the Canadian market. I love the handling dynamics of the 256-lb lighter and better balanced RWD ATS and could do without the AWD's increased weight, tire wear, fuel economy penalty, etc. I may go and drive it, and if I like it enough I'll see just how much it would cost to make the switch. No matter what I do, the day CUE craps out I'll regret not sticking with the 'other' car. :bigroll:

 

[Phantom14]

Good points...thanks for your input, and yes, 'that' is the car I'm considering (pretty much identically equipped to mine from what I can tell, but it has paddle shifters and lower DRLs, so it must be a Premium Luxury). I'm pretty sure I'd prefer the more linear throttle response and exhaust note of the 3.6L to the 2.0T. While I wouldn't personally benefit from AWD, you're right in saying that it would be advantageous when I go to sell the car in the Canadian market. I love the handling dynamics of the 256-lb lighter and better balanced RWD ATS and could do without the AWD's increased weight, tire wear, fuel economy penalty, etc. I may go and drive it, and if I like it enough I'll see just how much it would cost to make the switch. No matter what I do, the day CUE craps out I'll regret not sticking with the 'other' car. :bigroll:

You'll have to go and see/drive the Premium Luxury car to really appreciate it - it has a LOT of equipment that your current car doesn't. You've noticed the lower DRLs but it also has upper DRLs (a.k.a. 'signature lighting', as well as adaptive (steerable) HID headlights - big upgrade vs. the halogen projectors you have now. The exterior also has illuminated door handles, which are really nice. Inside you get not only the magnesium paddle shifters, but nicer front seats (12-way adjustable driver vs. 8), and sport pedals. Safety-wise, you get the Driver Awareness Pkg.: following distance indicator, fwd. collision alert, side blind zone alert, lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, Rainsense wipers, automatic high beams, and rear side airbags...the seat can vibrate for those warnings/alerts. That particular car also has the Driver Assist Pkg.: adaptive cruise control, fr./rr. automatic braking, electronic parking brake, power-adjustable steering column (part of the memory setting), and my favorite: heads-up display. You'd have noticed the bigger 18" wheels as well.

There may be a slight penalty in fuel economy with AWD, but to be honest, I'm getting nearly the same mileage now (3.6L AWD) as I did with my previous car: a FWD Malibu also with a 3.6L. It really depends on your driving style and geography. There is more weight, but it's still a beautifully balanced (52%F/48%R) package. Tire wear doesn't concern me - with less chance of wheelspin and regular rotations, I expect to see a similar/better tire lifespan than I would if I had RWD and I lit up the back tires from time to time. :spin: I haven't had any issues with CUE myself, but I did buy a GM Protection Plan (GMPP) extended warranty to cover me for ALL the potential expenses; you can get that from any GM dealer, regardless of where you bought the car, and you can shop around on price.

Go see it and drive it...it's a shame that the BMW sales guy will probably know less about the car than you do...lol.

 

[Pezman]

artscadillac mentioned what I was thinking. If you like your car and it is running good with no issues, you run a risk getting a car that does have issues. Yes, I know they are both under warranty, but I'd rather the car that hasn't had to use it. To me, that trumps the 2.0 vs 3.6 preference.

Of course, if you don't plan on keeping the car out of warranty period than this issue is moot. Pez

 

[Spiritforce]

I wonder why the former owner turned it in for a BMW ??

 

[ShakingTwoTrees]

Yeah, you have to wonder why the car was traded in after such a short period of ownership (18 months or less). My current ATS Luxury has the polished 18" wheels and sunroof upgrades and I've had no issues with the car. While I'd appreciate the HID headlamps and signature lighting, many of the electronic nannies and other gadgets don't really appeal to me, but certainly would be beneficial down the road when I sell the car. I'll ponder it some more and maybe swing by for a test drive over the weekend. The BMW dealer may not be too keen on taking my current ATS in on a trade anyway since it is less well equipped than the one they're anxious to sell...the price was reduced by another $1,000 since yesterday. Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[Sydtron]

Yeah, you have to wonder why the car was traded in after such a short period of ownership (18 months or less). My current ATS Luxury has the polished 18" wheels and sunroof upgrades and I've had no issues with the car. While I'd appreciate the HID headlamps and signature lighting, many of the electronic nannies and other gadgets don't really appeal to me, but certainly would be beneficial down the road when I sell the car. I'll ponder it some more and maybe swing by for a test drive over the weekend. The BMW dealer may not be too keen on taking my current ATS in on a trade anyway since it is less well equipped than the one they're anxious to sell...the price was reduced by another $1,000 since yesterday. Thanks for everyone's input!

Did they already quote you a trade-in price? I'd try the car out, and if you really like it and your trade-in price is agreeable have it inspected by a Cadillac dealer. A lot of the extras that Phantom was talking about are what make the car more than just a different CamCord6 to me.

 

[pkincy]

For $3,000 why not? But I expect by the time you finish with the dealer, state sales tax and fees it will be more like $6-8k. I traded my 17 Luxury with 25,000 miles for an 18 ATS-V with 1426 miles and I pulled the trigger because I wanted the lower miles and the V car, but it was nowhere near a smart financial decision. So if you want to do what your heart says, go ahead. If you want to do the right thing financially forget it.

 

[ShakingTwoTrees]

You're probably right, my guesstimated $3,000-$5,000 swap cost is probably conservative. Pre-owned ATS values are at the lowest I've seen, likely since sales are typically slow in January and the sedan is now out of production and off most folk's radar. $6,000-$8,000 wouldn't surprise me, so at that cost I'll stick with the current car. There's a big snow storm forecast for this weekend, so a test drive is highly unlikely anyway.

 

[DapperATS]

Good points...thanks for your input, and yes, 'that' is the car I'm considering (pretty much identically equipped to mine from what I can tell, but it has paddle shifters and lower DRLs, so it must be a Premium Luxury). I'm pretty sure I'd prefer the more linear throttle response and exhaust note of the 3.6L to the 2.0T. While I wouldn't personally benefit from AWD, you're right in saying that it would be advantageous when I go to sell the car in the Canadian market. I love the handling dynamics of the 256-lb lighter and better balanced RWD ATS and could do without the AWD's increased weight, tire wear, fuel economy penalty, etc. I may go and drive it, and if I like it enough I'll see just how much it would cost to make the switch. No matter what I do, the day CUE craps out I'll regret not sticking with the 'other' car. :bigroll:

Dont worry about the CUE. I just fixed mine 2 days ago. Cost was only 60.00 and my time. Very easy if you follow the steps on YOUTUBE.